CountyCare was recently recognized by Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States, with its purple bracelet honor at its Walk to End Addiction Stigma in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 27. The purple bracelet celebrates CountyCare’s systemwide efforts to support individuals who are facing substance use disorder or navigating recovery.
In 2023, CountyCare’s pharmacy team launched its Opioid Abuse Awareness Intervention, providing resources, tools and information to prevent opioid overdose. This included medication-assisted therapy and recipient restriction programs designed to support CountyCare members who might be struggling with opioid or other prescription drug misuse. The team also spearheaded outreach efforts aimed at educating members and health care providers about the risks of opioid use and distributing naloxone and fentanyl-testing strips at community events throughout Cook County.
Debby Onduto, program coordinator for CountyCare’s pharmacy team, accepted the award on behalf of the health plan.
“CountyCare understands that the opioid crisis in Cook County and throughout the United States requires a compassionate and varied approach,” Onduto said. “As a health plan, CountyCare is committed to supporting the best health outcomes for our members, their families and the communities in which they live.”
According to Shatterproof, overdose is the leading killer of young and mid-life adults in the United States. One in every six American adults is living with a substance dependence, and one in every three has lost someone to a drug overdose.
“Everybody knows someone impacted by addiction,” said Pam Jenkins, chief executive officer of Shatterproof. “It’s time we end the silence, stop the judgment and shame, and bring addiction out of the shadows. Shatterproof is here to convene the many people who have been impacted and the many organizations making a difference locally.”
CountyCare is the largest Medicaid managed care plan serving Cook County and is owned and operated by Cook County Health. It was recently recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as the top-rated Medicaid plan in Illinois.
CountyCare proudly serves individuals enrolled in HealthChoice Illinois, the state’s Medicaid managed care program.
For more information, visit www.countycare.com.
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About CountyCare
CountyCare is the largest Medicaid managed care plan in Cook County, covering nearly 400,000 residents. Owned and operated by Cook County Health, CountyCare offers primary care, dental and vision coverage, prescriptions and other health care benefits at no cost to its members. Its network includes 70 hospitals, 6,600 primary care providers, 26,000 specialists and 150 urgent and immediate care locations. Learn more at www.countycare.com.
About Cook County Health
One of the largest public health systems in the nation, Cook County Health (CCH) serves as the safety net for health care in Chicago and suburban Cook County. CCH is comprised of John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital and Provident Hospital, a robust network of more than a dozen community health centers, the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Cermak Health Services – which provides health care to individuals at the Cook County Jail and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center – the Cook County Department of Public Health and CountyCare, a Medicaid managed care health plan. Through the health system and the health plan, CCH cares for more than 600,000 individuals each year. While Cook County Health has evolved over the past 180 years, our mission remains the same: ensuring that all may live their healthiest life.